I’ve spent most of the past few months in a bit of burnout, so I’ve not been as active as usual. Add in the possible final days of Rome over here, and I have been a little bit overwhelmed.

Autism Acceptance Month is barely halfway through, and I’m already done. It’s been distressing for everyone, but this April has especially been rough for the community.

And of course, our new Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. also had some additional thoughts to share for the month:

“Autism destroys families…These are kids who will never pay taxes, they’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”

Allow me to reiterate:

• Autism is not a “dire threat to the American people and our way of life.”
• Autistic people are not “damaged”
• Autistic people are not “destroying families” 

Our worth is not dependent on our abilities – or a stranger’s limited expectations. We are not less worthy if we struggle to keep up with our peers.

All of us are different. Each autistic person has their own individual strengths and difficulties. Needing supports does not make you a burden, no matter how significant they are. 

Being able to work, go on dates, toileting – having difficulty with these things does not make you damaged or broken. Needing supports is not a moral failure. Your worth is not defined by the milestones that you meet.

I will not lie – autism is hard. There are a lot of things I can’t do, and many things I really wish I could. My autism is indeed a disability – but then again, disability is not a bad word.

It is not my superpower, but it is not my curse either. It simply just is.

My autism is genetic, just like it is for both of my brothers. When I had genetic testing for other medical reasons, we found multiple variants that were associated with autism.

Autism is part of my DNA, deep within my code. Autism is how l exist.

My neurology is not an exercise in moral arguments. It is not a judgement call, and definitely not a “dire threat.”

It’s an acknowledgement that life has meaning and value – in all the many ways we exist.

Autistic lives are worth living. No administration can ever change this.

We have always been here – and we are not going away. 

• Autism Acceptance Month
• Reflections